Two-needle sewing-machine



(No Model) EVE; HARRIS. TWO NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE.

No, 581,822. Patented May 4, 1897.

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EDMUND II. HARRIS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEIV JERSEY.

TWO-NEEDLE SEWING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,822, dated May 4, 1897.

Application filed March 31,1892. Serial No. 427,210. (No model.) I

To all whom it ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND H. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Two-Needle Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

In that class of sewing-machin es employing two needles for the purpose of simultaneously forming two rows of stitches it is frequently desirable to throw one needle out of operation, so as to temporarily form only a single row of stitches. This desideratum occurs more particularly when it is necessary to turn a sharp corner, so that the inner of two rows of stitches, as in stitching around a square, will not overlap or run to the outer row at the corners. It has heretofore been proposed to make one needle inoperative, so that only one row of stitches will be formed, by provid ing what is termed a loop-robbing device, or a device which prevented the needle which was to be rendered inoperative from throwing out loops to be engaged by thesh uttle orlooper beneath the work-plate; but this method of rendering the needle inoperative is obj ection' able in some classes of work (particularly in leather work) for the reason that the punctures made by the needle when not sewing mar the work.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and convenient device whereby one of two needles may be instantly thrown out of or into action at the pleasure of the operator. To this end I provide the main needlebar, which is operated from a crank in the usual manner, with a rigid block or cross-head through which a supplemental needle-bar is passed, the latter needle-bar being provided with a notch to be engaged by a locking device, consisting preferably of a spring-pressed pin or slide carried by said block or crosshead, to secure said needle-bar thereto. To the said block or cross-head is connected the upper end of a coil-spring, the lower end of which is connected to the lower part of the supplemental needle-bar in such a manner as to have a tendency to lift the latter. \Vhen it is desired to throw the needle carried by the supplemental needle-bar out of action, it is only necessary to withdraw the springpressed pin or slide and the coil-spring referred to will instantly elevate the supple mental needle-bar, so as to throw the needle carried by the latter out of action; and when the supplemental needle is again to be thrown into operation the operator merely presses upon the upper end of the supplementalneedle-bar and forces it down until the springpressed pin or slide will engage the notch in the needle-bar and lock it in place.

In the accoi'npanying drawings, Figure l is a front end view of a sewing-machine head with my invention applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the needle-bars with the supplemental needlebar and needle in their inoperative positions.

A denotes the head or forward end of the bracket'arm of a sewing-machine, and B is the main or driving shaft, having at its forward end the crank I), connected by the pitman 0 with the main needle-bar C in the usual manner. To the said main needle-bar O is attached the block or cross-head d, having a suitable vertical opening to receive the auxiliary needlc-bar D, the latter being provided with a notch d, adapted to receive a springpressed pin or slide c, suitably fitted in the said block or cross-head and provided with a handle or operating device 6, by which it may be retracted. A spiral spring E, connected at its upper end to the said block or cross-head (Z and at its lower end to the lower part of the auxiliary needle-bar D, serves to lift the said needle-bar to theinoperative position shown in Fig. 3, when the said springpressed pin or slide 6 is withdrawn from the notch cl of the said needle-bar. Thus when the operator wishes to throw the auxiliary needle-bar out of action he merely withdraws the spring-pressed pin or slide 6 from the said notch in the said needle-bar, when the spring E will instantly lift the auxiliary needle-bar, so that its needle will not touch the work; and when the auxiliary needle-bar is again to be thrown into action the operator merely presses the auxiliary needle-bar downward against the stress of the spring E until the notch d comes opposite the spring-pressed pin or slide e,when the latter will enter said notch and lock the said auxiliary needle-barin its operative position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a main needle-bar, and a cross-head or block rigidly secured thereto, of an auxiliary needle-bar vertically movable in said crosshead or block, a spring connected to said cross-head and auxiliary needle-bar, to lift the latter, and a locking device for removably securing the said auxiliary needle-bar to the said block or cross-head.

2. In a sewing-machine, the combination With a main needle-bar, and a cross-head or block rigidly secured thereto of an auxiliary needle-bar vertically movable in said cr0sshead or block, a spring connected to said cross-head and auxiliary needle-bar, to lift the latter, and a spring-pressed locking device for removably securing the said auxiliary needle-bar to the said block or crosshead.

3. In a sewing-machine, the combination with The main needle-bar O provided with the block or cross-head cl rigidly attached thereto, of the auxiliary needle-bar D freely movable verticallyin said block or cross-head and provided with the-notch d, the spring-pressed pin or slide 6 adapted to enter said notch and provided with a handle 6 whereby it may readily be withdrawn therefrom, and the lifting-spring E connected at its upper end to the said block or cross-head and at its lower end to the lower part of said auxiliary needle-bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND I'I. HARRIS.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS K. OBER,

E. R. EUSTON. 

